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Dear Patient and Friend,

Chances are, you have been affected in some way by the unusual and harmful onset of coronavirus infection – COVID-19 has moved quickly through our population because our bodies are unfamiliar with this virus, and therefore we have not yet developed immunity to it, as we have with dozens of other infections.

We will ultimately be fine, as we have come through other viral challenges like ebola, the swine flu, and of course the common cold. This virus seems to affect the huge majority of those infected gently or not at all, while 2-3% do not survive the infection.

If the infection is contained, then not as many people contract the disease, which is why it has been so important to observe social distancing, a technical term that simply means “staying away from each other.” So, other than washing your hands and staying as clean and sanitary as possible, keeping yourself and your family out of harm’s way means we should be wise enough to isolate ourselves, remaining at home, and if we do have to go out, putting six feet or so between you and anyone you engage.

Even though it’s frustrating and difficult, this is an important part of staying healthy during a widespread infection, a pandemic – ride it out, do the best you can, and take steps to stay as healthy as possible.

Dear Patient and Friend,

Unless you live in an area that is warm in January and February, you’re probably looking forward to getting outside for a breath of fresh, spring air. The change of seasons is a time for exhilaration, but it also causes stress for some people.

Spring cleaning, gardening, outdoor sports, getting kids to and from their school and social engagements – there’s a lot going on, and it can be hard to keep up.

That’s why it’s so important to take extra good care of yourself, so the stresses of the season don’t knock you off course. Get enough sleep – seven or eight hours for most people. Drink enough water – at least six or eight glasses a day, if not more. Avoid processed foods, salty and sweet snacks, and instead choose fresh, wholesome, healthy foods and treats.

Everything you do to make yourself healthier is an investment you make in yourself. And one of the best investments you can make is to get yourself and your loved ones a check-up by your family chiropractor, Dr. Wendy Lanser, DC.

Dear Patient and Friend,

A new study from the University of North Carolina showed that our genes respond to kindness. The research included three groups of people – one group that learned to meditate, one group that learned a special loving-kindness meditation, and a control group that did not meditate at all.

The results were startling. The group that learned and practiced the loving-kindness meditation had measurable changes in their genetic material – specifically, the protective end caps on each chromosome, called telomeres, showed decreased wear and tear.

Why is that important? The wear and tear on the telomeres is a sure sign of aging – in other words, those who practiced the kindness meditation actually slowed their aging process! That means that there is a direct relationship between being kind and living longer.

So, there’s more to kindness than just being a nice person, though that is, of course, a good thing to be. It turns out that looking for ways to express kindness is good for you as well as those you are kind to – it extends your life, makes your body work better, and it feels really good, too!

Practice kindness – it will make this world a better place, and also give you more years to live and enjoy.

Dear Patient and Friend,

Time Magazine, along with AARP, reports on a paper published last year in the journal “Circulation,” which defines five keys to longevity that anyone can learn and master.

1. Eat a healthy diet – a study done in 2017 states that improving your diet by 20% can have a 17% impact on extending your life, so even if you aren’t perfect, conscious eating can make a big difference. Fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, nuts, and healthy fats, and plant-based proteins, with less sugar and salt and fewer processed foods and red meats, can set you up for more years to enjoy your life. 2. Exercise regularly – 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of more intense exercise each week can keep you fit for extra years. 3. Maintain a healthy body weight – obesity killed 186,000 people last year due to diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, so figure out your best target weight and get there. If you need help, ask. 4. Drink in moderation – one or two adult beverages per day is considered safe for most people, any more is risky – be wise about this. 5. Don’t smoke – obviously smoking has been linked to respiratory disease, heart attacks, stroke, and cancer – if you don’t smoke, don’t start, and if you do, get help and quit. It’s a drug addiction and you need to fix it.

And, if you’re serious about living as long as you can with a great quality of life, don’t forget to include chiropractic care. It will destress you, make you more flexible, and your brain will be healthier, too.

Dear Patient and Friend,

Health care experts agree that most human maladies can be prevented or avoided with better lifestyle decisions. The two biggest killers of our people, heart disease and cancer, could largely be eliminated if we chose habits that supported good health – eating good food, no smoking, keeping the body fit and a few other basic choices would cut the prevalence of serious illness considerably.

But why do we actually get sick in the first place? It’s for one simple reason – our bodies are designed to work properly, as long as nothing interferes, but there is constant interference in the form of stress – physical, chemical and emotional stresses that our bodies must deal with to survive.

Dear Patient and Friend,

Heart disease has been our worst killer for decades. Traditionally, we wait until signs and symptoms of heart disease occur, and then we take medications until the system fails, leading to surgery and whatever. Some may need this, but there’s a way to intervene before health deteriorates, without the downside risk of these usual methods.

You may have heard of the “Mediterranean diet,” a popular eating style designed for good health and moderating weight. The guidelines are simple enough – fruits and vegetables, seafood, moderate dairy and wine, and reduced or occasional meat. But the centerpiece of the Mediterranean diet is olive oil – frying foods in it, dressing your salads with it, and creatively finding as many clever applications as you can.

It turns out that olive oil is one of the healthiest parts of this diet – and the reason for that is the large amounts of oleic acid found in olives.

Dear Patient and Friend,

A new study out of South Korea examined the brains of 68 healthy seniors, aged 59 to 84, to compare their biological age to their functional age, in other words, the way their brains are currently performing.

As you would expect, there were those who exercised their brains more than others, as part of their lifestyle, with games, creative thinking and artistic endeavors. Others interfered with their best brain function with dietary indiscretion, smoking habits and lack of mental and physical challenges.

Dear Patient and Friend,

Most people accept that chiropractic care is a great way to get well from all kinds of painful conditions, like back pain, neck pain, headaches, knee or shoulder injuries, and so on. As valuable as that may be, the latest research says that chiropractic does more than relieve suffering.

New studies from the Centre for Chiropractic Research in New Zealand have linked chiropractic with improved brain function. Dr. Heidi Haavik, founder and director of the Centre, has shown a connection between chiropractic adjustments and the thinking, decision-making part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex.

The more we learn, the more we understand about how important it is to take good care of your brain. And regular chiropractic care isn’t all you can do to have a healthy brain – the best brain food is healthy fat, found in foods like olives, fish, nuts, seeds and avocadoes. So, your brain is happy when you eat walnuts or sunflower seeds, when you dress your salad or cook with pure organic olive oil or dine on salmon or sardines.

Your brain doesn’t like refined sugar and other carbohydrates. So, your best diet would be low in sugars and high in healthy fats.

Your brain also doesn’t like dehydration. Make sure to drink enough water – if you feel thirsty, drink water.

Finally, your brain needs sleep, since it maintains and heals itself while you sleep. Aim for seven hours or more and your brain function will improve!

Chiropractic care, more healthy fats, less sugar, enough water and sleep – take good care of your brain, and it will take good care of you!

Dear Patient and Friend,

Most people, when offered a choice between something natural and something artificial, will go with something natural. We have an inherent sense that the natural way is the better way.

When it comes to food, we prefer natural foods over foods that are laden with chemical additives or are genetically engineered. Fresh air is more desirable than processed, conditioned air, and fresh spring water is also more desirable – in fact, even a genuine, authentic attitude is more satisfying than a phony, put-on facade.

So, is health care any different? If you have a choice between drug therapy and surgery or something more natural, which would you prefer? If you could get similar or even better results with a non-dangerous natural approach, wouldn’t you opt for that?

Dear Patient and Friend,

The New Year is a natural start point, and an invitation to take stock of your current circumstances and see where you can make your life a little better. All over the world, people are welcoming the opportunity to shift gears and choose some bad habits to break or new ones to establish.

Usually, people set New Year’s Resolutions to change something – lose weight, quit smoking, skip dessert or whatever. Often these decisions revolve around health – and rightly so, since this is one of the best places for us to invest in ourselves.